Final answer:
The purpose of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is to inform about a chemical's properties, health hazards, safe handling practices, and emergency procedures to protect workplace health and safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is to provide comprehensive information about a substance or mixture for use in workplace chemical management. They are an essential component of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), which aims to protect workers from health and safety hazards. An SDS includes information on the properties of each chemical; the physical, health, and environmental health hazards; protective measures; and safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting the chemical.
Safety data sheets are vital for ensuring that all workers have access to information regarding the chemicals they work with. This includes details on correct storage, handling practices, emergency procedures, and how to safely dispose of chemicals to prevent environmental contamination. Furthermore, the sheets can assist in the risk assessment processes of workplaces, ensuring that employees know and understand the hazards associated with the chemicals they may encounter.
For scientific and laboratory contexts, SDS information is particularly important. For example, in biosafety evaluations or when using chemicals during procedures like SDS-PAGE, a laboratory technique used to separate proteins based on their molecular weight. Adherence to safety guidelines, such as never performing experiments alone, always checking the safety data before using chemicals, and following given instructions exactly, can help minimize the risk of accidents.